Electric switch



N. W. NUTT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1919.

1,366,700. Patented Jan. 25, 1921;.

INVENTOR zoflwwn4, M

BY aaw/M ATTORNEY 1mm WI N 'U TT OI TEENTON, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SWI'IGH.

p fn mm mnt. Patente'd Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed .Tune 14, 1919. Serial 1th. 804,148..

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, NORMAN W. NU'r'r, a

' citizen of the United States, residin in efficient snap switch of thecharacter indi- Trenton, in the county of Mercer and tate of New Jersey,have invented an Improvement in Electric Switches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to quick action snap switches adapted to open andclose an elec: tric circuit with a rapid snap action to avoid sparkingat the contacts, and is particularly adapted use in lamp socketsintended to carry a relatively heavy wattage current without den or ofarcing between the switch terminals. %he principalobject of theinvention is to provide a relatively simple and cate'd, involvingcomparatively few elements, which are sb constructed and arranged as toavoid undue wear orderangement, and in which a partial rotation'of theswitch spindle will first initiatea disen agement of a rotary switchplate from a 100 ing plate and exert tension on the switch plate, bymeans ofa spring connection between-the same and the spindle whichspring has been previously put undertension by the initial turning ofthe spindle; so that the switch plate will be given a partial rotation,preferably 90, when it is again locked to the locking plate, the openingand closing rotary movement of the switch plate being eflected so raidly that arcing between the terminals of t e switch plate and the fixedcontacts or terminals ispractically eliminated;

The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a lamp socket, the outer shell orcasing being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a vertical-elevation of the switch plate and the cam or dogadapted to lift the same.

Fig.- 3 is a similar view of the switch plate per se. a

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectlon through the same.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the cam cooperating with theswltchplate.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the same.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the locking plate.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the same.

Fig. 9 is a vertical elevation of the switch plate showing theactuatingtsprings connecting the same with the she Referring to thedrawings, the numerals 1' and 2 indicate the upperland lower halves of alamp socket supporting base formed Fig. 10 is adetail view of'theswitchspine of molded porcelain or any other suitable insulating. material,the contacting faces of sald members being provided with grooves orchannels which constitute bearings for the shank of a key spindle, whenthe two halves of the base are secured together by screws in the usualmanner. The upper section 1 of the base carries the usual spring contact20 connected with wire terminal 21', and the lower section is providedwith the spring I contact 22 having'the usual center contact 23 withinthe screw-threaded socket 24. The engaging faces of the members 1 and 2on the handle side of the socket are extended to constitute an elongatedbearing for the cylindrical portion of the spindle 3, the inner end ofwhich is forked or bifurcated as at 3. and 1s generally'rectangular incross section, and the outer end of which is provided with the usualthumb piece 19. Mounted on the cylindrical portion of the spindle 3 is awasher 18,-which abuts has or projections 17 formed on the. spindle andwhich serves to accurately "space the spindle in the base, as indicatedin Fig. 1, said washer engaging the inner end of the bearing in whichthespindle-rotates.-

Loosely mounted on the forward or bifur cated end of the spindle 3, soas to be capable of .longitudinal movement thereon, or rotative'movement independently thereof, is a switch plate 4, which is preferablyformed as a stamping from sheet metal, having a central annular portionwith twooppositely .disposedlateral arms having contacts'5 disposed atright angles thereto for cooperation I shorter arms at right angles tothe contact arms and terminatlng in upturned ea1s 6,'6.

with the spring contacts 22 andv 20, and two 7 The center of the switchplate is recessed as.

at 8 to permit said plate to move freely either axially orcircumferentially with respect to the spindle. Thelong arms of theswitch plate are provided with detent's 7', 7,

which are preferably formed as bosses pressed outward from the rear ofthe plate, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 4. Between each ofthe detents 7 and the center of the switch plate is formed a similarboss 7 which constitutes a cam member by means of which the switch plateis moved springs being attached to the lugs 6, 6 on op- 19.

posite sides of the switch plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 9, so thatwhen the spindle is turned in one direction, one spring is placed undertension and when turned in the opposite-direction the other is'put undertension,

and both tend to rotate the switch plate. Ob viously instead of the dualspring arrange- -ment as illustrated, a single spiral ,spring may beemployed, but the double arrange ment is found preferable in that itproduces asmoother and more. positive snap action. In order to conservespace, the two springs are nested or disposed so that the convolutionsof one lie within those of the other, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 9.

'Located within a squared recess formed in the base concentric with thespindle 3 is a stop plate 9 having a dished central portion with anenlarged opening 10 and its sides forming a square which conforms to therecess in the walls of the base within which said locking plate isrigidly held. Each peripheral edge of the locking plate is providedwith-a recess .11 the edges of which constitute stops with which thebosses 7, 7 on the switch plate engage to retain the switch plate lockedin either opened or closed relation.

. Fixed to the squared end 3 of the spindle 3 and occupying the dishedportion of the stop plate 9 is a cam 12 having oppositely extendingradial cam members and a central flange 14 provided with a squaredopening 13 by means of which the cam is locked to the spindle forrotating movement but is slidable thereon when the parts are to beassembled or adjusted- The radial fingers of the cam member 12 cooperate.with the rounded cam-like bosses 7 on the switch plate and serve toforce the switch .plate' the various elements, the springs 15 and 16 aresecured by their ends constituting the apices of the spirals, in thebifurcated member 3' of the spindle 3. The switch plate 4 is thenslipped over the spindle and the free ends of the springs 15 and 16secured to the arms 6, 6 of the switch plate. The squared end of thespindle 3' is then passed through the squared eye 13 in the cam 12,andthe locking plate 9 is placed over the cam 12 so that the bosses 7, 7 ofthe switch plate engage.

two opposite stops 11 on the locking plate. The spindle with itsassociated elements is then laid in the groove formed in one of the basemembers, so that the locking plate engages the squared recess thereinand the several members,- to wit, the switch plate 4, the cam or dog 12,and the locking plate 9 are forced into intimate engagement by thetension exerted by springs 15 and 16, and the spindle is held againstaxial movement by the washer 18, which engages the extension on the wallof the base on one hand and the lugs or projections 17 formed on thespindle, on the other. The second member of the base is then applied andsecured to its cocperating member by suitable screws or other fasteningsand the device as thus assembled is ready for; application of the usualshell or casing.

.As. illustrated in Fig. l, the switch is closed as the contact members5, 5 of the switch plate are in engagement with the spring contacts 20and 22, located in the respective base members. It will be noted thatthe detents 7, 7 on the switch plate 4 are in engagement with twoopposite stops 11, 11 on the locking plate 9. In order to open theswitch, the spindle 3 is given a partial turn by means of the hand piece19, the first effect of which is to put one of the springs 15, 16 undertension, which action tends to rotate switch plate 4. The rotarymovement of the spindle 3 rotates the cam 12 and causes the outer endsof the arms thereof to engage the bosses 7 a of the switch plate andthereby move the switch plate axially of the spindle 3 in opposition tothe thrust of thesprings 15 and 16 which disengages the detents 7, 7from the stops 11 on the lock plate 9. As soon as this disengagement hasbeen eifected, the switch plate 4 responds to the rotative stressimposed thereon by spring 15 or 16 according to the direction thespindle is turned, and executes a rapid partial rotation, therebyseparating contacts 5, 5 from the spring contacts 20 and 22. movement ofthe switch plate being continued through one quarter of a revolutionuntil the detents 7, 7

-necessary that the switch members, so that to efiect eitherthe' openingor closing of the switch, it is only switch plate rotate through anangle of 90, and to bring-about this result, it is necessary only toturnthe spindle until the dog 12 carried thereby engages the cam lugs orbosses 7 on the switch plate and passes behind the same so as to liftthe switch plate out of locking engagement with the locking plate, whenthe necessary throw of the switch plate through a quarter revolution isautomaticall efiected by the action of the springs 15 an 16.

What I claim is 1. A snap switch comprising an axially movable rotaryswitch plate having detents.

thereon, fixed contacts cooperating therewith, a stationary plate havingfixed stop cooperating with said detents, a rotary spin-' dle, springmechanism connecting the spin- I dle and thcswitch plateyand means onsaid spindle to move the switch plate out of engagement with thestationary plate when said spindle is partially rotated in eitherdirection.

2. A snap switch comprising an axially movable rotary'switch platehaving detents thereon, fixed contacts cooperating therewith, astationary plate havin' fixed stops spaced at angles of 90 abnut t eperiphery thereof and cooperating with said detents, a rotary spindle,sprin mechanism connectingthe spindle and t e switch plate, and means onsaid spindle to move the switch plate out of engagement with thestationary plate when said spindle is partially rotated in eitherdirection.

3. A snap switch comprising an axially movable rotary switch platehaving detents and bosses thereon, fixed contacts cooperating with saidswitch plate, a stationary plate having fixed stops cooperating with thedetents on the switch plate, a rotary spindle, spring mechanismconnecting the spindle and switch plate, and a cam fixedon the .spindleto engage the bosses on the switch plate to release the latter from thestationary plate when the spindle is partially rotated in eitherdirection.

4. A-snap switch comprising an axially movable rotary switch platehaving detents and bosses thereon, fixed contacts cooperating with saidswitch plates, a statlonary plate having fixed stops spaced at angles of90 about the periphery thereof and cooperating with said detents, arotary spindle, spring mechanism connecting the spindle and switchplate, and a cam fixed on the spindle to engage the bosses on .theswitch plate to release the latter from the station-.

cooperating with said contacts and having detents thereon, springmechanism connected to the spindle and to opposite sides of theswitch-plate, a cam fixed on-the spindle, a stop plate fixed to saidbase having spaced peripheral fixed stops cooperating with the detentson the switch plate, and cooperating cam means on the switch plateadapted to be engaged b the cam on the spindle to move said switc plateaxially of the shaft and unlock the switch plate from the stop platewhen the spindle is partially rotated in either direction.

6. A snap switch comprising an axially movable rotary switch platehaving detents thereon, fixed contacts cooperating therewith, astationary plate having fixed stops cooperating with said detents, arotary spindle, oppositely tensioned spiral springs connecting thespindle to opposite sides of the switch plate, and means on said spindleto with the stationary plate when said spindle is partially rotated ineither direction.

7. A snap-switch comprising a base, a rotatable spindle mounted thereon,spaced contacts carried by the base, an axially movable switch plateloosely mounted on the spi dle cooperating with said contacts and ha ingdetents thereon,and oppositely tensioned spiral springs connecting thespindle to opposite sides of the switch plate, a stop plate fixed tosaid base having spaced peripheral fixed stops cooperating with thedetents on the switch plate, and cooperating cam means on the spindleand switch plate to move the latter axially of the switch and unlock theswitch plate from the stop plate when said spindle is partially rotatedin either direction.

NORMAN W. NUTT. Witnesses:

W. I. PEAoocK, JOHN R. D. Bowen.

